Kurt Warner's improbable football story ends in improbable place: Canton

CANTON, Ohio – At the beginning of Kurt Warner’s football career, it would have been laughable to imagine one day writing a story about him that began with the dateline of Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Unique path to history

Warner acknowledges that his story is so incredible that it borders on myth, yet he sees it differently than others.

“I always felt like wherever I was, I’d be successful,” he said. “A lot of people when they see my career, they hear or remember ‘sat on the bench four years in college, got cut by the Packers, worked in a grocery store and then won the Super Bowl.’

“That’s kind of the timeline the people see when they hear ‘Kurt Warner.’ When I look at the timeline, I say, ‘played one year in college, was player of the year in my conference. I played three years in arena football, went to the Arena Bowl twice and was voted the best quarterback in the league all three seasons. Went to Europe for a year and was the top quarterback statistically. So I look at it, and say, every time I played, I was successful.’”

Ironically, the elements that make Warner’s story so incredible also were the biggest impediments to his selection to the Hall of Fame.

Warner didn’t become a starter in the NFL until age 28. After three superlative seasons with the Rams, including two MVP awards and two Super Bowl appearances, Warner’s performance slipped, mostly due to a hand injury.

The Rams eventually released him, and Warner signed with the Giants. Warner lost his starting job midway through the year to rookie Eli Manning and signed with Arizona the following spring.

Arizona Cardinals Hall of Fame member Kurt Warner throws out first pitch during the National League Wild Card game on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz.
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Retired Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner works on the sidelines for NFL Network during training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. August 8, 2017.
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Kurt Warner was inducted into the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor at first time during Monday Night Football on Sept. 8, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
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Kurt Warner was inducted into the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor at first time during Monday Night Football on Sept. 8, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
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Cardinals team president Michael Bidwill shows former quarterback Kurt Warner where his name is enshrined in the Ring of Honor during halftime against the San Diego Chargers at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sept. 8, 2014.
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Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill announces June 18, 2014, that former quarterback Kurt Warner will be inducted into the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor. The induction will take place September 8, 2014, when the Cardinals play the San Diego Chargers.
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Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill announces June 18, 2014, that former quarterback Kurt Warner will be inducted into the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor. The induction will take place September 8, 2014, when the Cardinals play the San Diego Chargers.
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Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner visits the field during warm-ups before the Cardinals played the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
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Kurt Warner waves goodbye to the fans in Glendale after the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Green Bay Packers in an NFC Wild Card playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. The game would be Warner's final home game in Arizona before retiring.
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Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner sounds the new siren for the first time at a Cardinals game on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
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Jan. 16, 2010: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) walks off the field after his NFL football divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 45-14 to advance to the NFC conference championship.
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Jan. 16, 2010: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner lies on the field after being injured during the second quarter of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans.
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Nov. 22, 2009: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner watches from the sideline during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams. Warner was taken out of the game after a concussion and did not return to the lineup.
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March 4, 2009: Ken Whisenhunt, the Cardinals' head coach, listens to Kurt Warner talk about his new contract while the news conference plays on TV via the NFL Network at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe. Warner signed a two-year deal worth $23 million.
Jack Kurtz/The Arizona Republic

March 4, 2009: Kurt Warner and his wife, Brenda, talk with coach Ken Whisenhunt at the Cardinals offices in Tempe. The team announced that quarterback Kurt Warner signed a two-year contract worth $23 million.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) reacts after Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison makes a 100-yard touchdown interception during the second quarter Sunday. The interception return gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead at halftime.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) is presented the Walter Peyton Man of the Year award by Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell prior to the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla.
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Jan. 18, 2009: Cardinals QB Kurt Warner watches from the sideline during the NFC Championship Game victory over the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFC Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
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Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner speaks during a news conference at the team's training facility on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, in Tempe. The Cardinals face the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday in Glendale.
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Arizona Cardinals team president Michael Bidwill, left, and quarterback Kurt Warner enjoy the closing moments against the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 7, 2008. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 34-10 to clinch the NFC West title.
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Kurt Warner takes the field prior to the Cardinals' game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football on Nov. 10. The Cardinals won the game 29-24 to improve to 6-3.
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Jets linebacker Calvin Pace (97), a former Cardinal, holds up the ball after recovering a fumble by Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) late in the fourth quarter on Sept. 28, 2008, in East Rutherford, N.J. Warner threw for 472 yards, but turned the ball over six times as the Jets won 56-35.
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Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner prepares to take the field against the Washington Redskins on Dec. 11, 2005. Warner has performed well in three seasons with the Cardinals, battling injuries and starting 26 of 30 games he has played with Arizona.
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Quarterbacks Kurt Warner #13, Jesse Palmer #10 and Eli Manning #3 of the New York Giants study game formations during the game agaisnt the Philadelphia Eagles at Giants Stadium on November 28, 2004 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Eagles defeated the Giants 27-6.
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Kurt Warner of the New York Giants looks on from the sideline against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 12, 2004 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles won 31-17.
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Kurt Warner #13 of the New York Giants talks with teammate Amani Toomer #81 on the sidelines during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Giants Stadium on September 26, 2004 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Browns 27-10.
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Rams quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger warm up prior to a game in September 2003 at St. Louis. Bulger was starting in place of Warner, who suffered an apparent concussion the previous week.
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Quarterback Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams gives an interview during media day 25 January, 2000, at the Georgia Dome, site of the Super Bowl XXXIV, in Atlanta. The Rams will face the Tennessee Titans in the Super Bowl which will be played on 30 January.
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Under Kurt Warner's guidance, Preston Hite rears back as he throws a pass. At the Cardinals training facility in Tempe, Warner's First Things First Foundation held a punt, pass and kick clinic for Special Olympians from Peoria, Tempe and Mesa in October 2005.
James Carreno/The Arizona Republic

Kurt Warner waves to fans as he leaves the field following the Cardinals' 38-28 victory over the Rams in St. Louis on Nov. 20, 2005. The game was the first for Warner as a member of the Cardinals since his days as the starting quarterback for the St. Louis Rams.
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Kurt Warner at a Wednesday morning news conference in February 2006 announcing his re-signing with the Cardinals. Warner said he would have considered retirement had he not been able to come to terms.
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Matt Leinart stretches out his throwing arm while Kurt Warner does bench presses during their workout together in the new weight room at the Cardinals training center in Tempe in April 2007.
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Tully Banta-Cain (95) of the 49ers jumps on a ball fumbled by Kurt Warner as he is sacked in the end zone by Ronald Fields during overtime of a game in Glendale in November 2007. The 49ers scored on the play to win the game.
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Students and faculty from Palm Valley Elementary School in Goodyear pose with Kurt Warner at the NFL Super Kids-Super Sharing event held at the NFL YET academy in Phoenix on Jan. 24, 2008.
Sherrie Buzby/The Arizona Republic

It wasn’t huge news to Cardinals fans, who had watched their team sack Warner six times the previous season. Warner signed a one-year deal, an indication the team didn’t see him as the long-term answer at quarterback.

It took until 2008 for Warner to become the unquestioned starter at quarterback in Arizona. He led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl that season and into the playoffs again in 2009, his last season.

He left Hall of Fame selectors with an interesting career to ponder. Warner played 12 seasons, five in Arizona, but had only six great years. In the middle of his career were five seasons filled with injuries and a quest to prove he could still play at a high level.

That’s why Warner didn’t make the Hall of Fame until this year, his third year of eligibility.

What’s most impressive about Warner’s career is not the raw statistics. It’s that he helped two moribund franchises, the Rams and Cardinals, become contenders. Along the way, he taught younger players, such as Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, about work ethic and unselfishness.

A few years ago, NFL Films chronicled Warner’s story in its “A Football Life” series.

In one scene, the Cardinals are trying to close out a game in Seattle in 2009. Fitzgerald is six yards short of 100 yards receiving and is imploring Warner to throw him the ball.

“I’ll try to get you the ball,” Warner replied, “but what about winning this game?”

At his locker last week, Fitzgerald smiled when he was reminded of that moment.

“He made you think,” Fitzgerald said. “He made you walk away and think, ‘I’m being selfish right now.’”

As much as Warner wanted the ball in his hands, he was never selfish when coaches took it away. Marc Bulger replaced him in St. Louis. Manning did in New York, and the Cardinals tried hard to give Matt Leinart the starting job over Warner in Arizona.

In each instance, Warner supported his replacement.

“Having seven kids, you love being in a position where you know how you act, what you say and how you help someone can ultimately impact their long-term success, or belief or confidence,” Warner said.

“That is something I try to emulate to this day,” Fitzgerald said. “He doesn’t allow things that are out of his control to bother him.”

It’s how Warner handled not making the Hall of Fame in his first two years of eligibility.

“I’ve known other guys who have waited, and it just consumes them,” Fitzgerald said. “His demeanor never changed. He told me, ‘It’s out of my control. I’ve done what I could to put myself in position to be immortalized. And when my name is called, I’ll be happy. But until then I’ll be happy and be the man I’ve always been.'”

While he always seemed in control on the football field, Warner wasn’t afraid to show emotion. He and former offensive coordinator Todd Haley often exchanged heated words on the sideline, and Warner never hesitated to chastise a teammate who made a mistake.

He left nothing unsaid. If a receiver was supposed run a “dig” route and and finish two yards inside the numbers, he'd better not be a yard off.

“But it was never personal,” Fitzgerald said. “It was never, ‘Fitz you’re an idiot.’ It was, ‘I need you to be better.'

“It’s completely different, and that’s what I loved about it. You could never get mad at his delivery because you knew it was coming from a good place.”

Fitzgerald will be among a sizable Cardinals contingent in attendance at the induction on Saturday night. So will his wife, Brenda, their seven children and numerous other former teammates and coaches.

Warner is due to speak last and has hinted his acceptance speech will go longer than the 14 minutes or so that Hall of Fame officials prefer.

That’s understandable. There’s a lot to talk about.

“No one ever did what he's done,” former Rams coach Dick Vermeil said, “and no one will ever do it again. Ever."